be anfwer'd. For, though Charitable Works cannot reconcile Impenitent Sinners unto God, and though they are not, in any Cafe, the Meritorious Caufes of Salvation, yet are they Neceffary, and feem to be, in concurrence with Repentance, through the Merits of Christ, highly Conducive towards preventing the Imputation and Punishment of fuch Known Sins as are repented of; highly Conducive to the rendring God Gracious and Indulgent in excufing Sins of Weakness and Inadvertency; to the reducing us to a State of perfect Favour with God, and to advancement unto Eminent Degrees of Future Glory. And indeed, under the Limitations already affigned, we cannot easily rise too high in our Notions, concerning the Efficacy of Works of Mercy; which will be Regarded and Approved, in fo peculiar a Manner, by our Bleffed Lord, when he comes to Judge the World, that, in his account of the General Judgment, * he mentions Them Alone, as the Matter of that Last, De

* Matt. xxv. 35. &c.

cifive Enquiry; as if the Procefs of that Great Day fhall chiefly turn upon this one Particular.

Since then Charitable Works are fo Neceffary, fo Excellent, and fo Effectual to Salvation; Undoubtedly they cannot be neglected by any Sincere Christian; Efpecially, upon fuch Remarkable and Engaging occafions of Charity, as are now to be laid before you in the following Reports.

Here were read the feveral Reports of the prefent ftate of Chrift's, St. Bartholomew's, St. Thomas's, Bridewell and Bethelem Hofpitals: As also a true Account of the Workhoufe in Bishopfgate-Street.

These are Representations of Things, in their own nature so apt to Move, that, in paffing through the feveral parts of them, I could not eafily avoid reflecting, That the Kindly fire of Divine Love did now begin to fpread in your Breasts; That you now begun to feel, what the Scripture means by Bowels of mercies; That your Charitable Furposes did every moment rife Higher, and that, in the Conclufion,

K 4

clufion, they would be attended ́with no Difficulty, unless it were in determining, which of these Glorious Designs fhould have the Preference. For each of them does, with abundant reason, lay claim to your Kind wishes and Liberality.

If the Education of the Children, recommended to you, * be duely confider'd, it must meet with Encouragement, wherefoever any Footsteps of Charity are to be found. For if this be a Cogent reason of fuccouring every Neceffitous Person, That he bears the Image of God; How justly may They depend upon our best Affections and Affiftance, who have not yet Defaced that Image, by the habits of Sin? Or, if we should make an Estimate of this branch of Charity, by its Confequences; it will appear to be of the utmoft Importance: For your Favour, to thefe objects of it, adds Glory and Strength to your Countrey, contributes to the Honour of God and our holy Religion, fecures the diftreffed Innocents themselves

*Christ's Hofpital.

from

may

from fatal Ignorance and Pollutions, and fupplies them with the means of Salvation; which be hazarded and finally Loft, under the Want of those advantages, which you are capable of giving.

If we transfer our Thoughts from those, who are Entring upon the Scene of Life, to others, * whose Exquifite torments have made Life to become a Burthen to them; we fhall find new Demands upon our Charity, and those fo Reasonable and Juft, that Charity cannot reject them. If wounds and Difeafes do ly so very Heavy, even upon all the Comforts, which the Largest Fortune can fupply; How fhould we commiferate the Pains and Sickness of those, whofe Groans and Sighs are their only Relief. Let our Imaginations then be filled with the hideous Cries, which cannot reach our Ears; Let us mourn with them that mourn, and freely reach out Confolation unto them; under the Thoughts of those fhocking hours, which are haftening towards us,

*St. Bartholomew's, and St. Thomas's Hofpitals.

the

the hours of Sickness and approach of Death, when our Whole ftock of Comforts will be Wanted, and when this Work of Mercy will be our Principal fupport. Thus is this very Bleffing annexed to this Duty: * Blessed is be, that confidereth the Poor, or the Sick; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will ftrengthen him, upon the bed of languifbing; thou wilt make all his bed in bis fickness.

There is ftill another profpect of Mifery, which cannot but command our moft tender Regard. For who is Hardy enough to withold his Compassion and Affiftance from thofe, who are deprived of Reason; upon which depends even our Capacity of being Religious, or Happy? They who can behold these Ruins of Human Nature, without wifhing and attempting its Reparation, muft themfelves be fallen from Humanity. And they are indeed no better affected to the common good of human Society, than to thofe miferable Perfons, who are Gra

*Pfal. xli. 1, 3.

† Bethlem.

cioufly